Jeon Jong-seo

Jeon Jong-seo, also known as Rachel Jun, is a South Korean actress born on July 5, 1994, in Seoul. She is widely recognized for her debut lead role in the acclaimed mystery thriller film Burning, as well as her award-winning performance in the thriller film The Call.

Raised as an only child, Jeon moved with her family to Canada during her childhood, where she attended a private Christian middle school. After returning to South Korea, she graduated from Anyang Arts High School. She subsequently enrolled at Sejong University as a film major, but later dropped out to pursue her acting career full-time.

Jeon began her professional acting career after joining a talent agency. In August 2017, she attended her very first audition for director Lee Chang-dong's film Burning. Despite having no prior experience in the entertainment industry, she secured the lead role of Hae-mi alongside actors Yoo Ah-in and Steven Yeun. Burning premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 to universal acclaim, earning Jeon international recognition and the Best New Performer award at the 2019 Asian Film Critics Association Awards.

In 2020, Jeon starred in her second film, The Call, playing the antagonist Young-sook. The film premiered on Netflix in November 2020, and her performance received widespread critical praise. For her role in the film, she won the Best Actress award at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, as well as Best Actress honors at the 30th Buil Film Awards and the 20th Director's Cut Awards.

Jeon expanded her international reach by signing with the United States-based agency United Talent Agency under her English name, Rachel Jun. She made her English-language debut playing the lead character Mona in Ana Lily Amirpour's fantasy-adventure film Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, which premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021. She next starred alongside Son Suk-ku in the romantic comedy film Nothing Serious, directed by Jeong Ga-young.

In 2022, Jeon made her television series debut playing Tokyo in Netflix's Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, the Korean adaptation of the Spanish drama series. Her further projects include reuniting with director Lee Chung-hyun for the short film Ransom alongside Jin Seon-kyu, and playing a former assassin in the Netflix film Ballerina.

Jeon signed an exclusive contract with the agency Andmarq on August 22, 2022. On March 17, 2024, she threw the ceremonial first pitch at a preseason exhibition baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Kiwoom Heroes. In her personal life, she has been in a relationship with director Lee Chung-hyun since December 2021.